Button dispensing attachment for button-sewing machines



Ailg. 22, 1950 H. L.HERRING BUTTON DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES Fild Aug. 22, 1949- 5Sheets-Sheet l In ventor 1 E 3 mm vw M Q 9: NV N vm m N9 8 m m! Q vi w QQ mi H. BUTTON DIS L. HERRING PENSING ATTACHMENT Aug. 22, 1950 FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed m 22,119 49 vQ mQ Inventor v Howar d L. Herring B] 2AM Attorney Aug. 22,1950 H. L. HERRING 2,519,655 v BUTTON DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 22, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /02 z 1 7a. /28 98 I I 7 r 104 i [/2 J06 56 /2; v I 2 i4? 7 30 '//4 60 o" //6 4o 5 58 I26 I 2Z0 62 Inventor 48 46 Howard L. Herring 1/4 44 ,1

B) I m v H. L. HERRING BUTTON DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fil ed Aug. 22, 1949 I n uentor Howard L. Herring Aug. 22, 1950 H. L. HERRING 2,519,655

. BUTTON DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 22, 1949 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 L: mmnmnuu Fig. [0.

30 /6 r 1-1 I 48 46 m 28 22 3a 52 Inventor Hqward L. Herring I. By kzam reading of cloth to the machine.

, machine and "U NI'TEDQ QSTATES PATENT" OFFICE BII'TTON DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR 3 BUTT ON SEWING 'MA'CHINES Howard L. Herring, Jackson, Miss., assignor o'f fifty per cent to N & W Industries, Incorporated, Lynchburg, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application August 22, 1949, Serial No. 111,693

v j p This invention relates to new and" useful improvements in button sewing machines and the primary object of (the present invention to protide a button dispensing attachment for button sewing machines so that asingle button may be discharged toandgripped by'the usual button holding. jaws'of a button sewing machine.

Another object of the presentinvention is to provide a button dispenser for button sewing machines'that is foot operated to permit anoperator to have bothhands free for themanipulation and Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a button dispensing attachment for button sewing machines including a delivery con- ,duit and a novel and improved .buttonholding and releasing member that issmanually actuated through an operating mechanism toeffect the release of a single buttonat a time. a 7

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a button dispensing attachment for button-sewing machines including a hopper and an agitator associated with the hopper to "prevent -the clogging of buttons in the hopper.

Another objectof the present invention is to provide a button dispenser for button sewing machines that is quickly and readily applied to or removed from a button sewing machine without in anyway, interfering with the normal structurefiofthe machine on which the same is 'attachedlj V j j q H A further object of theipresent invention is to providea button dispensingattachme'nt for, button sewing machines that is extremely small and compact in structure to occupy very little space 'onabutton sewing machine. 1 A still. further aim of the present invention is to provide a button dispenserof the aforementioned character that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, highly efiicient inoperation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise'well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects andadvantages reside in the details of construction and operation as morefully hereinafter described and claimed, references being had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numeralsrefer to'like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a button we "holding jaws that the same is associated with randlalsolshowing .the spreader: cam for the jaws;

showing the present invention ap- 6'Clairns. (01. 112 -113) of section line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a detailed view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the hopper construction and the delivery conduit extending from the hopper;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the hopper and taken substantially on the plane Figure 6 is a perspective view of the button holding and releasing member that is used in conjunction with the present invention;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantiallyon the plane of section line l! of Figure 3 and showing the mounting for the button holding and releasing member;

Figure 8 is a front sectional view of the button gripping jaws and support therefor and the conduit mounted on one of the jaws;

is provided a button holder l6 consisting of a vertically swingable base [8 on which a pair of button holding jaws 2d and 22 are pivotally mounted. The jaws 2G and 22 support pins 24 that are slidably received in iorwardy diverging slots 26 in a jaw operating member 28. A lug 30 rises from the member 28 and isslidably received in a longitudinally extending slot 32 in the plate it so that as the lug 30 enters the rear of the slot 32 the jaws 20 and 22 will spread whereas the placement of the lug 30 in the forward portion of the slot 32 will effect a movement of the jaws 20 and 22 toward each other.

A post 34 rises from the forward end of the plate H? and a coil spring 36 is terminally secured to the post 34 and lug 30 to yieldingly urge the lug 3t and member 28 forwardly of the plate 18 and hence the jaws 20 and 22 to their button gripping position. p

A swingable member 38 is pivoted to the plate i8 and extends across the slot 32 between the lug 3B and post 34. The member 38 is formed with an arcuately slotted head 4i? that receivesa bolt 42 threaded to and extending upwardly from the plate l8. As the bolt 42'is threaded downwardly the same will clamp or force the head 40 against the upper surface of the plate It and will permit the lug 30 to be held at a predetermined distance from the post 34. The bolt 42 is normally positioned so that the member 38 can be swung to contact the lug 30 to move the lug 30 rearwardly in order to spread the jaws 20 and 22.

The jaws 2,8 and 22 "are provided with offset end portions E4 and 46 having concaved inner surfaces for gripping a button and a re; taining finger 48 disposed between the jaws 2B and 22 is also provided with an offset portion that is held stationary between the offset and positions 44 and 48 of the jaws.

An elongated spring member 52 is secured to to the inner surface of the plate' lt and includes an ofiset and bifurcated end portion 54 that underlies the end portions ll'and of the jaws. The furcations of the end portion 54 project inwardly of the concaved faces of the end portions 59 an 46 to prevent "the downward movement If a butt-sn'gnppea by the end portions 44 m 5?; offthe jaws. A spring arm 55 supported on the memberza urges the spring member 52 from the undersurface of the plate l8.

"Held stationarybn the machine IE! is 'a cam 'SS'that willenga'ge the lug "39 during upward rearward lifting movement of the forward ion 0i plate It to urge the lugafl rearwardly l in the 310532 to thereby efiect a spreading of t e jaws fi n' 22.

"The afore'described structure, as shown best in 'Eig'ures 8; '9, and 10, is quite similar to all 'typesb'f buttonsewing {machines and the manner in which the lu'g'SEI is contacted by the stationary is also quite common to practically all typ'es'of button sewing machines.

The button holder it is modified by a tubular member or conduit '53 having one of its ends cured'by welding or the like to one of the jaws, lqr esampl the offset end portion 4 of the jaw '22. Of course, the conduit 58 may be integrallyiormed with the jaw 22 as a new article pff'm'anufacture, "since the present invention is ad ptablefor existing sewing machines as Well newly manufactured sewing machines. The

"con uit ta inclinesrearwardly and upwardly from the aw '22 and atone side of the jawZE, and the conduit 58 terminates in an enlarged end portion or guide throat for a purpose that will "later "be ore fully "described.

' The conduit 58 is formed with a longitudinal 'sl'ot in one'of walls to permit'a slight expansion of the "conduit 58 as a button passes 'therethrough and so that an access to the interior of the conduit 58 will be present. The lower end'oi the conduit 58 slopes over the end portions 44 and '46 of the jawsifl'and '22 so that a button sliding downwardly through 'the'con- 'd'ui-t Eliwillbe deposited in a substantially horizontalposition between the end portions of the jaws and*on the furcations of the end portion 54 of spring 152.

A support 63 is mounted on the base M of the machine 10, or to a block '65 secured tothe base M, by fasteners or the 1ike,'and'the'support64 includes a pair of upstanding portions 66 and 68. The upperend of portion 66 is securedto a hopper having a downward tapering substantially conical lower portion '12. The minor end ofthe conical lower portion 12 is secured to the upper end of a downwardly curved delivery conduit" having a discharge end 16 that is curved laterally toward the throat 6B of conduit 58. The delivery conduit T4 is supported by the portion 68 and the delivery conduit is provided, throughout its length, with a slot 18 that will permit a slight "expansion of the delivery conduit.

A hopper 19 includes a removable cover or closure 80. and a means for agitating the buttons in the hopper to prevent the buttons from clogging and thereby restricting their passage into the delivery conduit 14, The agitating means, as shown best in Figures 4 and 5, consist of a rod or holder 82 that is journaled for rotation in an aperture 84 in the hopper ID. A slide 86 is receiyed on the inner end of the rod 82 and is held longitudinally adjusted on the rod 82, by a set screw 8,8. The slide 86 is provided with a pair of openings that are spaced parallel to the rod "82 and which receive the ends 90 of contact arms or wire members 92. Set screws 94 threaded on the slide 86 bear against the ends 90 to adjust, longitudinally, the members 92 relative to the slide 86.

As,th e enlarged outer end portion 96 of the rodBZ is rotated, the wire members 92 will rotate t a tate batons 1- h hop e and thereby ven therein-cs H n lc up in hopper, hence the bu tons in the hopper will gravitate into the delivery conduit M.

' Means is provided so that a single button at a time can be discharged from the conduit 14 into the conduit 53. This means consists of a button holding and releasing member designated generally by the numeral 98 and which is disclosed bestdn Figure 6 of the drawings. The member :33 is composed -of an elongated strap Hit that is pivoted,;as at I02, to the portion 68 for vertical swinging movement. The strap I82] includes a channel shaped portion lt l the legs f. whic su eri e e'r a lower Stops or fingers 10 6 and llili. The finger N35 is slidably received in the slot "18 and the finger W8 is slidably received in a slot 1 H3 in the lower wall-of theconduit Bl-as shown in Figure 7-.

A'spring H2 is terminally secured to the portion it and the member illl'a-ndyieldingly urges the finger is into the conduit Hi and the finger 108- out of the conduit 14 as illustrated best in Fi u e 1 There is provided. an operating means or linkage f or the j nembe r 93 that consists of bearings "I'M rngnjiniged"on the base M. The bearings H i support a rock shaft "I [5 on one end of which is secured an armHB having a terminal sleeve I29 that slidably receives a contact member or red [22. The rn'feniber [2 2 is held longitudinally ad u ted in h leeve '48 a s t screw 4 Theother end of the "shait H5 supports a laterally projecting 1m "1.25 that is pivoted to an upright {23 having an ofiset ear E30 that is pivoted, asat I32, to a rdckable llever I34. 'The lever I3 1 is supp rted on a pin I35 mounted on a bearing 138 on the head 12 and the rear end (if the lever 13 i "issecured to a foot operated hanger Hit," The forward end of the lever [34 'is slidably. received on a vertically movable rod [42 carrid'by theihea'd l2 and'havinga stop I44 mounted thereon that overlies the eye end I46 of the'lever I34.

The lower. .end of; the rod 142 supports a laterally projecting block 1 4.8 that will engage the laterally projecting end oi the post 34 to raise or it th r r nd-Q e memb I6 a t r 142 is :n oved upwardly. The elements ISA-I46 inclusive, form a usual part of a Singer sewing ch ne- In practical use of thepresent invention, a plurality of buttons aretplaced in the hopper 1!! and certain of the buttons will slide down the conduit :14; until they are-arrested by the finger 22, the member 98 will be pivoted upwardly to move the finger I98 into the conduit 14 and the finger I06 out of the conduit thereby releasing the button I 50 previously resting against the finger N16. The button I59 will slide down the conduit l4, and since during the raising of the member IS the throat 60 is moved toward the discharge end 16 of the conduit 14, the button I50 will pass into the conduit 58 and will be deposited between the jaws and 22 as before described.

The spring H2 will then return the finger 106 to its position within the conduit 14 and finger I08 out of the conduit 14 so that as the hanger M0 is again moved down another button will be discharged. Also, the member 16 will swing downwardly to its normal position and the jaws 20 and 22 will grip the button therebetween.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be apparent to those skilled in the art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and t e scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1-. Ina button sewing machine including a pair of button holding jaws, an attachment for the sewing machinefor supplying buttons to the jaws,

' said. attachment c m rising a hopper mounted on the sewing machine, a delivery conduit extendin from the hopper, a further conduit carried by one of said jaws and positioned to receive buttons leaving the delivery conduit, a channel member, a sup ort forsaid deiiverv' conduit, a pivot pin securing said channel member to said support, first and second spaced parallel fin ers on said channel member, said fingers being spaced apart to permit a button to be disposed therebetween. o enings in said delivery conduit for receiving said fingers, said fingers bein alternatively moved into and out of said delivery condu t. and an o erating mechan sm connected to said channel member for im arting pivotal movement to said channel member.

2. In a button sewing machine including a p ir of button holding jaws. an attachment for the sewing machine, for supplyin buttons to the .iaws, said attachment comprising a hopper mounted on the sewing machine, a del very conduit extending from the hopper, a further conduit carried by one of said. jaws and positioned to receive buttons leaving the delivery conduit, a

support for said delivery conduit, a button holding and releasing member pivoted on said support for vertical swin in movement. a first finger depending from said member, a second finger rising from said member, said fin ers being s aced parallel to each other, said delivery con-duit having an upper wall and a lower wall, said u per wall having an opening for receiving said first fin er and said lower wall having an opening for receiving said second finger, means acting on said member for urging said first finger into said delivery conduit to block the passage of button therethrough and also urging said second finger out of said delivery conduit, and an operating means connected to said member for moving the second finger into the delivery conduit and the first finger out of the delivery conduit to release a button from the delivery conduit.

3. In a button sewing machine including a pair of button holding jaws, an attachment for the sewing machine for supplying buttons to the jaws, said attach-ment comprising a hopper mounted on the sewing machine, a delivery conduit extendin from the hopper, a further conduit carried by one of said jaws and positioned to receive buttons leaving the delivery conduit, means associated with said delivery conduit for releasing one button at a time from the delivery conduit, and an operating mechanism connected to said means, said operating mechanism including a rock shaft mounted on the sewing machine, a laterally projecting arm carried by said shaft and connected to said means, and a foot operated rockable lever for rocking said shaft.

4. In a button sewing machine including a pair of spreadable button holding jaws, an attachment for the machine for supplying buttons to mounted on said support, a delivery conduit extending downwardly from the hopper and having a lower discharge end, a further conduit fixed to one of said jaws and having an enlarged upper end for movement toward the lower end of said delivery conduit upon spreading of said jaws, and means synchronized with the spreading of the jaws to release a button from th delivery conduit.

5. For use with the spreadable button holding jaws of a button sewing machine, a button dispenser comprising a delivery conduit for supplying buttons to the jaws, a vertically swingable button holding and releasing member associated with the conduit, said member including upper and lower fingers alternately entering said conduit, means urging said upper finger into said conduit and said lower finger out of said conduit, and means for moving the lower finger into the conduit and the upper finger out of the conduit, said fingers being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a button in said conduit.

6. In combination with the vertically movable jaw supporting member of a sewing machine and the complementary jaws on the member that are spread as the member is raised, of a button dispenser includin a chute for supplying buttons to the jaws, said chute having a discharge end, a tube supported on one of the jaws and having a mouth that moves toward the discharge end of said chute upon spreading of the jaws, a swingable button holding and releasing member associated with said chute, and. a foot operated mechanism for imparting a swinging movement to said member to efiect the release of the button from the chute.

HOWARD L. HERRING.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,940,229 Rawnsley Dec. 19, 1933 2,321,990 Burkey June 15, 1943 

